World Championships bronze medalist Indian star Lakshya Sen made a big difference by defeating world number three Anders Antonsen on Thursday. Sen defeated Anders in straight games to enter the men’s singles quarterfinals of the All England Badminton Championships.
The 20-year-old from Almora, who won the India Open title in January this year and last week’s German Open runner-up, registered a 21-16, 21-18 victory over third seed Antonsen. Antonsen is a two-time medalist at the World Championships.
Sen and Antonsen were facing each other for the first time at the international level. In the quarter-finals, Sen will face eighth seed Ng Ka Long Angus of Hong Kong or Lu Guang Xu of China.
Earlier, India’s Saina Nehwal lost to second seed Japanese Akane Yamaguchi in a three-game thriller in the second round of women’s singles. Former world number one Saina lost 14-21 21-17 17-21 to Yamaguchi in a match that lasted 50 minutes. Saina lost in straight games to Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand at the German Open last week.
Sen displayed a fine example of his technical prowess and kept Antonsen away from the net. They took the lead 11-9 in the first game till the break. Even after this, he maintained his lead and won the first game easily.
In the second game, Sen took a 9-5 lead and maintained a four-point lead till the break. Antonsen scored six consecutive points to make the score 14-14, after which it became 16-16. Sen soon made two points to lead 18-16 and got three match points from a cross court smash.
Antonsen saved a match point after a long rally but then the Indian did not give him a chance and secured his place in the last eight.